New data finds that even though the nation’s economic growth recovered to the three percent range last year, the number of employed people fell to the lowest level compared to such growth. 

According to data released by the Bank of Korea and Statistics Korea on Monday, the nation’s employment-to-gross domestic product(GDP) ratio stood at 17-point-two last year, slipping by zero-point-three and breaking the previous low posted in 2016.

The ratio refers to the number of employed people needed to yield one billion won in real GDP. It demonstrates the growth in the number of people with jobs compared with the growth in the economy. 

An expert at the Korea Employment Information Service said that the drop is somewhat inevitable but added that the speed at which is the figure is slipping is alarming.